CT Only: Hotrodding Your Subbie

[jawillroy]

It's been noted in the Errata that the Plain Jane Subsidized Merchant described and statted in LBB2 actually assumes a standard hull, with 15 tons wastage in the engineering section, set aside for upgrades.

I observe that there is no similar space set aside for computer upgrades.

So unless a referee gently waves the hand of permission, upgrades to a computer (to go along with the D drives you'd no doubt cram into the engineering room) would be limited to a 1Bis, no?

But the real question: how would you cost out the necessary adjustments to fuel capacity?
Switching over to D Jump and Power plants, you'll need another 50 tons. One assumes that hold space will have to be converted over to fuel storage. What would you do - assume the modification to be on the order of Mcr .1 per ton? More? Less?

And what about retrofitting hardpoints?

And and and. ASKING FOR A FRIEND.

 

[kilemall]

I always looked at the merchants as highly customizable, moreso then warships, since you have all that cargo space that could be carved out for other purposes.

So drop that computer upgrade in there, and wall it off, probably put it close to access ladders leading to the bridge or engineering.

Or put it in your spare engineering space, especially if you want it secure from hijackers or boarders that might know your unique equipment.

As for supercharging LBB2 standard ships, I would tend to rule that a refit exceeding your engineering space would require a custom hull, and charge the whole hull to reconfigure your space less what was paid for the original.

If your players just insist that's not fair, well they can cut corners, but I would then institute flaws that show up under stress during combat or atmo maneuver or solar flares, or say start the ship out with several hull hits so it is more fragile then stock hulls.

 

[mike wightman]

If you want to upgrade the computer just find space in the main compartment for it - use up some cargo space or convert a stateroom.

(Note by the RAW in CT you can only put drives in the engineering section - you can't even put a small fuel reserve in there)

 

[jawillroy]

(Note by the RAW in CT you can only put drives in the engineering section - you can't even put a small fuel reserve in there)

Right - so the extra fuel space would have to come out of the cargo deck.

 

[jawillroy]

they can cut corners, but I would then institute flaws that show up under stress during combat or atmo maneuver or solar flares, or say start the ship out with several hull hits so it is more fragile then stock hulls.

Starting to giggle over here.

"That computer and drive upgrade went fine, Cap, but there's a quirk in how it talks to the main thrusters and the power plant: if you crank the drive up to 2G, there's a chance that you'll hit a feedback loop which'll freeze the computer and force you to reboot. That'll only take about twenty minutes, though, and the drive will keep firing. What's gonna happen in twenty minutes?"

 

[kilemall]

Starting to giggle over here.

"That computer and drive upgrade went fine, Cap, but there's a quirk in how it talks to the main thrusters and the power plant: if you crank the drive up to 2G, there's a chance that you'll hit a feedback loop which'll freeze the computer and force you to reboot. That'll only take about twenty minutes, though, and the drive will keep firing. What's gonna happen in twenty minutes?"

I was thinking in terms of cheating on the major costs and impacts a D drive refit would be with all the bulkhead and fuel/wiring/power flow/control systems changes.

The bulkhead bit alone means a serious redo of the ship's physical structure support.

For the price paid for LBB2 computers, often 1/4 plus the cost of the ship, those refit upgrades should have perfect service and reliability and a mint on the ship owner's pillow afterwards.

It should be an abnormal heavenly support experience, which many shipmasters will gladly pay for just to not have your scenario occur.

 

[jawillroy]

What, you want to pay for it?

I was just assuming the upgrades fell off the back of a truck...

 

[kilemall]

What, you want to pay for it?

I was just assuming the upgrades fell off the back of a truck...

I see a very bad reentry experience in your future.....

 

[jawillroy]

"You wanted to see me, Cap'n Jamison?"
"I did, I did. I understand you took the initiative to refurbish the jump drive last system."
"That's right, Cap'n! Tip to toe, replaced everything I could."
"I'm sure you did, Hopkins. A fine quality in a drive assistant. And you did this with the parts on hand, did you?"
"Yessir! Nothing but what we already had. Didn't spend a credit!"
"I see... Hopkins, can you find - on the cargo manifest, mind, not the hold - can you find the shipment we took on two weeks ago on Wapapitame Five?"
"Sure thing, Cap'n... Here we go, sir! Parts, comma, drive class D, comma, factory recall 177182 stroke A stroke 995."
"Yes. That was it."
"Will that be all, Cap'n?"
"Yes."
"...."
"Cap'n?"
"Yes, Drive Assistant Hopkins?"
"Can I come in from the airlock yet?"
"No."
"...."
"Cap'n?"
"Cap'n?"
"Cap'n?"